Highlights
- Overwatch 2's latest developer update teased hero changes for Sombra, Roadhog, Illari, Zarya, and more, and it will drop when Season 7 starts on October 10.
- Blizzard is aiming to create more unique team compositions and balance the playing field rather than make some simple damage number changes.
- The update hints at Sombra becoming more committal, Roadhog gaining better team protection, and Illari's healing being more potent in Season 7.
In a newly released developer update for Overwatch 2, Blizzard teased new hero changes for Sombra, Roadhog, Illari, Zarya, and others. This Overwatch 2 update focuses on Season 7 for the hero-based multiplayer shooter, which is expected to start on October 10th.
Traditionally, Overwatch 2 gets a big update toward the beginning and the middle of each new season. Blizzard also likes to inform its players of the methodology used when deciding what heroes need to be reworked and why. For example, in its most recent update, Blizzard explained how it wants each new hero added to the game to shift the viability of other characters in order to create unique team compositions. Blizzard also explained that it doesn’t want to simply change damage numbers up and down from season to season. Instead, it wants to balance out the playing field so that every character can be fun to play.
Sombra in Overwatch 2 is a highly skilled and elusive hacker who can easily slip by her opponents using her unique abilities. Blizzard didn’t get into the specific changes for this character, but it did tease three goals. The first is to make Sombra more committal when engaging an enemy, possibly referring to the character’s low damage output with her primary weapon. The second goal is to increase the active feel throughout her kit, which is vague and will need more explanation later. The third goal is to uphold her current hacker identity and play style, which lets Sombra players know that she’ll still be able to hack enemies and health packs.
Blizzard also gave players a quick tease for the upcoming changes to the powerful tank hero Roadhog that will be released in the middle of Season 7. Three broad goals were stated, with the first being an increase in his ability to protect his team and claim more space. The second is to maintain his overall identity and play style, and with Blizzard stating that he will keep his hook and healing ability, that will likely be achieved. The third goal is to balance out his power set so that he’s generally more effective.
Blizzard’s newest update also mentioned that Illari, the new support hero in Overwatch 2, will have a few changes in Season 7 as well, including making her secondary fire healing more potent. Season 7 will also bring some changes to the size of Zarya’s bubbles, Torbjorn’s primary fire recovery time, and a reduction in Orisa’s Fortify ability. Blizzard also promised more specific details about the Sombra and Roadhog reworks in the next few weeks.
Overwatch 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Blizzard
